Safety manual vegetable cutter

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a manual vegetable cutter, for selectively varied cutting. Furthermore, the cutter of the present invention does not expose the user to risks of serious cuts. The cutter includes a frame fitted with at least one cutting blade mounted transversely facing a slot through which the cut vegetables pass and also two side rails providing guidance in to and fro translational motion for a guide chamber equipped with a loading volume for the vegetables to be cut up and acting in conjunction with a press-down cap which the user grips in order to move the guide chamber to and fro along the guide rails while constantly exerting pressure on the vegetables contained in the loading volume so that they are pressed against the cutting blade or blades fitted to the frame and can be cut up by the blade or blades.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of Application Ser. No. 09/956,407,filed Sep. 19, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,732,622, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety and which claims the benefit ofFrench Patent Application No. 01 06 922, Filed May 28, 2001

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject of this invention is a safety manual vegetable cutter fordomestic and professional use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are currently different types of manual vegetable cutters on themarket, none of them very practical and all of them exposing their usersto serious risks of cuts.

At the same time, there are also numerous electric vegetable slicers orfood processors for household use or designed for use in industry orcollectives, these being multi-purpose machines. However, they aregenerally sophisticated appliances which, apart from their high cost,often have the disadvantage of being inconvenient to use and alsodifficult to assemble and clean.

So far, users have never been offered simple, practical and inexpensivemanual vegetable cutters, allowing the cutting characteristics to bevaried selectively and also not exposing the user to risks of seriouscuts.

The invention is intended to fill this gap.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve this, the invention proposes a safety manual vegetablecutter, in broad terms substantially metal, characterised in that itcomprises a frame fitted with at least one cutting blade mountedtransversely facing a slot through which the cut vegetables pass andalso two side rails providing guidance in to and fro translationalmotion for a guide chamber equipped with a loading volume for thevegetables to be cut up and acting in conjunction with a press-down capwhich the user grips in order to move the guide chamber to and fro alongthe guide rails while constantly exerting pressure on the vegetablescontained in the loading volume so that they are pressed against thecutting blade or blades fitted to the frame and can be cut up by theblade or blades.

Given this configuration, the to-and-fro motion of the guide chamberalong the frame enables vegetables inserted into the loading volume tobe cut into slices automatically.

Of course, in connection with the invention, the term “vegetables” mustbe considered in a very broad sense, and the vegetables cut up may benot only vegetables of all kinds in the strict sense (potatoes,cucumbers, carrots etc.) but also fruits or other foodstuffs suitablefor slicing.

According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the press-downcap has a hollow ergonomic body fitting over the guide chamber so as toform a carriage assembly integral in translation with the frame and alsoan extractor consisting of an extractor rod capable of translationalmotion on the inside of the ergonomic press-down cap body, and having afirst end extending beyond this press-down cap body through a guideopening made in it, and also by a plate transmitting feed pressurepreferably fitted with spikes on its outer face.

According to the invention, this feed plate is secured to the second endof the extractor rod to allow the vegetables for slicing to be pressedagainst the cutting blade or blades fitted to the frame when thecarriage is moved.

When the ergonomic press-down cap body is fitted over the guide chamber,it is able to slide on it.

The cross-section of the extractor rod and also the guide opening arepreferably not free to rotate and are dimensioned so as to preventrotation of the extractor relative to the ergonomic press-down cap body.

According to the invention, the first outward-projecting end of theextractor rod is fitted with a removable plug with a diameter largerthan the diameter of the guide opening so as to allow the extractor toremain constantly integral with the ergonomic press-down cap body.

According to another preferred characteristic of the invention, thepress-down cap has a spring fitted around the extractor rod with one ofits ends or first end bearing against the ergonomic press-down cap bodyon the inside of the latter and also its opposite end or second endbearing against the feed pressure plate.

This spring tends to press the feed plate against the frame in theabsence of any external force being applied to it.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ergonomicpress-down cap body is equipped with needles attached to the inside ofit and intended to be pushed into the vegetables to be cut up, so as toprevent them rolling in the guide chamber.

After the ergonomic press-down cap body is fitted onto the guidechamber, the extractor comes to bear against the vegetables which havepreviously been put into the loading volume.

When the user then applies pressure to the ergonomic press-down capbody, the latter slides along the guide chamber and moves nearer to theframe.

In the course of this movement, the extractor rod rises progressivelyoutwards, compressing the spring, and the needles are pressed into thevegetables.

This movement continues until the spring is compressed completely.

The length of the extractor rod which then projects beyond the ergonomicpress-down cap body through the guide opening indicates to the user thequantity of vegetables present in the loading volume of the guidechamber.

From this position, the user can cut up the vegetables by maneuveringthe ergonomic press-down cap body so as to move it to and fro along theframe, so that the level of vegetables is constantly lowered.

In fact, the spring constantly applies pressure to the extractor whichforces the vegetables towards the cutting blade or blades fitted to theframe so that they can be sliced.

As the slicing proceeds, the needles are released from the vegetables.

According to the invention, the vegetable cutter is dimensioned so thatwhen the cutting is finished, the ergonomic press-down cap body isresting against the guide chamber and the extractor cannot move down tothe level of the cutting blades because the length of the extractor rodis chosen such that the plug causes its translational motion to behalted.

It should be noted that the assembly thus constituted can be completelydismantled by means of the plug which, when removed, allows theextractor to be taken out of the press-down cap by releasing the springso that the user can thus clean the unit thoroughly.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the frame has twoparallel side uprights connected by a transverse operating handle andforming the guide rails of the carriage.

According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the vegetablecutter comprises means for adjusting the depth of cut and therefore thethickness of the slices cut.

These means advantageously include a ramp, capable of translationalmotion, fitted parallel to the cutting plane and facing the cuttingblade or blades at one of its ends or first end to form the slot throughwhich the sliced vegetables pass.

It is also advantageous in accordance with the invention to providemeans for keeping the first end of the cutting depth adjustment ramp ata constant short distance from the cutting blade or blades.

According to the invention, when the vegetable cutter is operated, thecutting depth adjustment ramp is of course locked with respect to theside uprights of the frame and the user holds the ergonomic press-downcap body with one hand to move the carriage assembly to and fro alongthe frame while exerting pressure on the press down cap body, and alsoholds the transverse operating handle of the frame with the other handto steady the appliance.

According to the invention, the cutting depth adjustment ramp mayadvantageously be constituted by a central plate acting in conjunctionwith the transverse blade or blades and, by means of side flanges,locating it between the side uprights of the frame.

To achieve this, the uprights may be fitted on their inner faces withstuds engaging in oblong holes in the side flanges of the ramp.

These studs and oblong holes may also act in conjunction with identicaloblong holes made in the side uprights of the frame with lockingcomponents integral with the ramp passing through them.

When they are loosened and not providing locking to prevent movement,these locking components also act as guide studs so as to allowtranslational motion of the cutting depth adjustment ramp with respectto the side uprights of the frame.

The holes provided in the flanges of the cutting depth adjustment rampand also in the side uprights of the frame are preferably inclinedobliquely so that the translational motion takes place in bothdirections, up and down and backwards and forwards.

It is thus possible to keep the cutting depth adjustment ramp constantlyparallel to itself and consequently to adjust the depth of cut whileensuring that the first end of the ramp remains at a constant and veryshort distance from the cutting blade or blades.

Such a configuration means that the cut can be optimised both because ofthe short distance between the ramp and blade(s) as they pass eachother, which ensures optimum regularity and accuracy, and also becausethere is no variation in height during translational motion of thevegetables towards the cutting blade or blades; this arrangement avoidsany phenomenon of thinning at the end of the cut such as might beobserved if the cutting depth adjustment ramp, instead of being made tomove in translation parallel to the cutting plane, was able to move inrotation about an axis integral with the frame at its second endopposite the first end located facing the cutting blade or blades.

According to the invention, cutting depth adjustment can advantageouslybe achieved by operating a hand grip provided for the purpose at therear of the ramp.

The distance between the transverse operating handle and the hand gripis preferably arranged to allow movement of the fingers so that the usercan push or pull the cutting depth adjustment ramp with the hand whichis holding the transverse operating handle.

All that needs to be done then is to lock the adjustment using thelocking components.

It should be noted that the side uprights of the frame canadvantageously be equipped with markings to show this adjustment andtherefore to indicate to the user the thickness of the slices cut.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the guide chamberis made integral with the frame by means of slides preferably of aman-made material, particularly polycarbonate.

The function of these slides is to exclude any risk of seizure resultingfrom metal to metal friction and therefore to allow the guide chamber toslide easily, smoothly and silently along the frame.

Fitting the guide chamber so that it is integral with the framerepresents a particularly advantageous characteristic of the inventionsince it eliminates any danger of the guide chamber accidentally comingoff its guide rails during use, and consequently causing injury to theuser.

According to the invention, the loading volume of the guide chamber mayadvantageously be cylindrical in shape and of relatively large size(particularly a diameter of the order of 50 to 150 mm for a height ofthe order of 10 to 80 mm) to allow professional use.

Of course, a loading volume of the guide chamber of the kind describedacts in conjunction with an ergonomic press-down cap body which is alsosubstantially cylindrical inside and a feed plate forming a press-downdevice constituted by a disc.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vegetablecutter rests on at least one foot, preferably folding.

The frame can advantageously be mounted on two folding trapezoidal feet,namely a front foot and a rear foot, substantially U-shaped.

The front foot raises the front of the frame, that is to say the endopposite the transverse operating handle to allow a dish to be slidunder it and filled up; a substantially larger volume of vegetables canthus be sliced.

The rear foot allows the vegetable cutter to be used over a containersuch as a basin, using it as a support; the support thus obtained isstable and consequently makes for safe use of the vegetable cutter.Resting the vegetable cutter on the front foot and on the rear footenables a convenient working angle to be obtained.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vegetablecutter comprises at least two removable and interchangeable transverseblades capable of being selectively positioned and snapped into place inthe frame.

One of these blades is preferably equipped with a straight cutting edgewhile the other is equipped with a corrugated cutting edge, with variouspossible shapes.

The blades having a straight cutting edge and the blades having acorrugated cutting edge can be selectively fitted in the cuttingposition facing the slot through which the cut vegetables pass,depending on whether smooth slices or ridged slices are required.

According to the invention, the transverse blades are composed of a bodyof a man-made or metal material in which the cutting portion isinserted.

The body of each transverse blade may advantageously include a markwhich the user will also find on the frame when fitting the blades so asto ensure that they are inserted in the right direction and on the rightside of the cutting portions.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vegetablecutter comprises at least one removable lengthwise cutter blade fittedwith a set of equidistant blades aligned substantially at right anglesto the transverse blades so that the vegetables can be cut into sticks.

The vegetable cutter may advantageously be equipped with a series ofsuch cutting knives where the blades are a greater or smaller distanceapart so that larger or smaller sticks can be obtained.

According to the invention, the cutter blade is preferably snapped intoplace in the frame between the side uprights of the frame, in particularby means of projections and corresponding recesses.

It is particularly advantageous for these projections and these recessesto be asymmetrical to ensure that the blade is always fitted the rightway round. The ergonomic shape of the press-down cap body provides agood grip for installing it without risk of injury.

It is also advantageous to equip the vegetable cutter with a bar forlocking the cutting blade after it is fitted into the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the vegetable cutter which is the subject of theinvention will be described in more detail with reference to theattached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vegetable cutter

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame showing the upper part of theframe

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame showing the lower part of theframe

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the frame fitted with the guide chamber

FIG. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 4 when the press-downcap is fitted

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the vegetable cutter fitted with thecomplete carriage in action on the vegetables to be sliced

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the upper part of the guide chamber

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the lower part of the guide chamber

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the press-down cap fitted onto theguide chamber

FIGS. 10 and 11 are cutaway views of the whole of the carriage

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the carriage with the press-down capshown in the down position

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the carriage with the fitted press-downcap shown in the up position

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cutting depth adjustment rampshowing the lower part of the ramp

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the cutting depth adjustment rampshowing the upper part of the ramp

FIG. 16 is a detailed perspective view of the upper part of the frame

FIG. 17 is an exploded view corresponding to FIG. 16

FIG. 18 is a lengthways sectional view of the frame showing the cuttingdepth adjustment ramp in the low position

FIG. 19 is a lengthways sectional view of the frame showing the cuttingdepth adjustment ramp in the high position

FIG. 20 is a detail view corresponding to FIG. 18

FIG. 21 is a detail view corresponding to FIG. 19

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of one of the faces of a transverse bladehaving a straight cutting edge

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 showing the other face of thistransverse blade having a straight cutting edge

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of one of the faces of a transverse bladehaving a corrugated cutting edge

FIG. 25 is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 24 and showing theother face of the transverse blade having a corrugated cutting edge

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing one of the faces of a cutter blade

FIG. 27 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 26 and showing the otherface of the cutter blade

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the cutter blade locking bar.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As shown in FIG. 1, the vegetable cutter consists of a frame 1 shown indetail in FIGS. 2, 3, 16 and 17 and also of a carriage assemblyconsisting of a guide chamber 2 and a press-down 3 cap capable oftranslational motion to and fro along this frame 1.

The guide chamber 2 is shown in detail in FIGS. 4, 5, 7 and 8 while thepress-down cap 3 is shown in detail in FIGS. 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the frame 1 is mounted on two trapezoidalfeet, substantially U-shaped, namely a front foot 4 and a rear foot 5.

The frame 1 consists mainly of two parallel side uprights 6, 7 linked bya transverse operating handle 13, and by a spacer 8 on which atransverse cutting blade 9, 9′ slides in a manner which will bedescribed in more detail later in this presentation and also a cuttingdepth adjustment ramp 10, a first end 11 of which is positioned facingthe cutting blade 9, 9′ so as to form a slot 12 through which the slicedvegetables pass.

The configuration of the cutting height adjustment ramp 10 will also bedescribed in more detail later in this presentation with reference toFIGS. 14 to 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the upper edges 6 ₁, 7 ₁, opposite thefeet 4, 5 of the side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1, form two guide railsfor the guide chamber 2.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the guide chamber 2 consists of asubstantially rectangular chamber body 14, having two opposite edgesturned down to form two slides 15 ₁, 15 ₂ substantially U-shaped insection which act in conjunction with the guide rails 6 ₁, 7 ₁, and alsoof a cylindrical wall 16, the inside of which forms the boundary of aloading chamber 17, open at either end, holding the vegetables to be cutup, shown by dotted lines in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 9 to 13, the press-down cap 3 consists mainly of anextractor 19 and a hollow ergonomic press-down cap body 18 fitting ontothe cylindrical surface 16 of the guide chamber 2 so as to form acarriage assembly integral with the frame and able to move intranslation, as shown in particular in FIG. 6.

As FIGS. 10 and 11 show, the extractor 19 consists of an extractor rod20 which is not free to rotate, carrying at one of its ends a disctransmitting feed pressure 22 fitted with spikes 23.

The end 21 of the extractor rod 20 opposite the disc transmitting feedpressure 22 projects from the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 through aguide opening 24 which is not rotationally symmetrical either, made forthis purpose in the central part of the ergonomic press-down cap body18.

A removable plug 25 shown more precisely in FIG. 11 is fitted onto theend 21 of the extractor rod 20 to allow the extractor 19 to remainconstantly integral with the ergonomic press-down cap body 18.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the extractor 19 is equipped witha spring 26 which is fitted around the extractor rod 20 and bearsagainst the inner face of the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 at one ofits ends 27 and also against the disc transmitting feed pressure 22 atits opposite end 28.

As shown in FIG. 6, the spring 26 tends to press the disc transmittingfeed pressure 22 against the frame 1 in the absence of any externalforce exerted on it.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 isalso equipped on the inside with needles 29 designed to be pressed intothe vegetables to be sliced (FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 4, when the user wishes to use the vegetable cutter,the first operation consists in inserting vegetables to be sliced, shownin dotted lines, in the loading volume 17 of the guide chamber 2.

After the vegetables are inserted, the user must fit the ergonomicpress-down cap body 18 onto the cylindrical surface 16 of the guidechamber 2 as shown in FIG. 5.

Prior to this fitting operation, the extractor 19 is in a rest positionshown in FIG. 12 in which the plug 25 is bearing against the outerperiphery of the guide opening 24 in the ergonomic press-down cap body18.

When the fitting operation is carried out, the disc transmitting feedpressure 22 comes up against the vegetables contained in the loadingvolume 17 and the spikes on this disc 23 press into the flesh of thesevegetables to hold them.

When the disc is pressing on the vegetables, the user must applypressure to the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 to make it slide alongthe cylindrical wall 16 of the guide chamber 2 in the direction of arrowA (FIG. 6).

As shown in FIG. 13, the needles 29 then enter the openings 30 made forthis purpose through the disc transmitting feed pressure 23 and are thenpressed into the flesh of the vegetables to be sliced to hold them moresecurely; at the same time, the extractor rod 20 rises in the directionof arrow B, compressing the spring 26 in the process, until compressionis complete.

As shown in FIG. 6, the user must then move the carriage assemblyconsisting of the guide chamber 2 and the press-down cap 3 intranslation to and fro along the frame 1 in the directions showing bydouble arrow C so that the vegetables are sliced by the transverse blade9, 9′.

In the course of this movement, the spring 26 constantly presses down onthe disc transmitting feed pressure 22 which presses the vegetables tobe sliced against the transverse blade 9, 9′ so that they can be sliced.

As the level of vegetables in the loading volume 17 of the guide chamber2 decreases, the needles 29 are withdrawn from the vegetables.

At the end of the cut, the ergonomic press-down cap body 18 is restingagainst the body 14 of the guide chamber 2, in the position shown inFIG. 12.

It should be noted that the disc transmitting feed pressure 22 cannotmove down to the level of the transverse blade 9, 9′ since itstranslational motion is stopped before this by the plug 25.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the cutting depth adjustment ramp 10consists of a centre plate 31 equipped on either side with two sideflanges 32, 32′ substantially perpendicular to the plate and serving tolock the ramp 10 onto the side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1.

For this purpose, the side flanges 32, 32′ of the ramp 10 are providedwith oblong holes 33, 33′ aligned obliquely, and fitting into these arepegs 34, 34′ projecting from the inside faces of the side uprights 6, 7of the frame 1, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

The side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1 also have oblong holes 35, 35′aligned obliquely which are similar to the oblong holes 33, 33′ in thecutting depth guide ramp 10.

The oblong holes 35, 35′ in the frame 1 are positioned to line up withand act in conjunction with circular openings 36, 36′ in the sideflanges 32, 32′ of the cutting depth guide ramp 10 shown in FIG. 14, andpassing through these are locking screws 37, 37′ for locking the ramp 10in a given position by means of nuts 38.

The oblong openings 33, 33′ in the cutting depth adjustment ramp 10extend to the level of the centre plate 31 of this ramp 10 and aredimensioned to allow the pegs 34, 34′ to pass through so that the ramp10 can be completely dismantled after removing the locking screws 37,37′ and the nuts 38.

As shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, the geometry of the oblong holes 33 and 33′,and also 35 and 35′ is selected so that the position of the cuttingdepth adjustment ramp 10 can be altered by moving it in translationparallel to the cutting plane as indicated by arrow I in FIGS. 20 and 21between a low position shown in FIGS. 18 and 20 and a high positionshown in FIGS. 19 and 21, in such a way that the first end 11 of thisramp 10 is always located at a constant short distance from thetransverse blade 9, 9′.

The first end 11 of the ramp 10 thus moves in a trajectory shown bydotted lines in FIGS. 20 and 21.

To carry out this adjustment of the ramp 10, the user must loosen thelocking screws 37, 37′ and nuts 38, and push or pull the ramp asindicated by double arrow II in FIGS. 18 and 19, doing this by takinghold of a hand grip 39 provided for the purpose at the second end 40 ofthe ramp 10 opposite the first end 11 which is positioned facing thetransverse cutting blade 9, 9′.

As shown in FIGS. 16, 17, 18 and 19, a graduated scale 41 marked on theinner face of the side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1 provide the userwith an indication of the level of the ramp 10.

Of course, when the ramp 10 has been adjusted, the user must lock it bymeans of the locking screws 37 and 37′ and nuts 38 before beginning theslicing operation.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 22 to 25, the vegetable cutter is equippedwith two removable and interchangeable transverse blades which can beselectively fitted to the frame 1 facing the first end 11 of the cuttingdepth adjustment ramp 10, namely a first transverse blade 9 fitted witha straight cutting edge 42 shown in FIGS. 22 and 23 and also a secondtransverse blade 9′ having a corrugated cutting edge 43 which is shownin FIGS. 24 and 25.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, these blades 9, 9′ both consist of a bodyof a man-made or metal material 44 into which the cutting portion 42 or43 is inserted.

As shown in FIGS. 22 to 25, the body of a man-made or metal material 44is extended to form a handling grip 45 allowing the user to take hold ofthe blades 9, 9′ without touching the cutting portion 42 or 43, and isprovided on a first face 47 with a positioning mark or device ensuringcorrect location 46 corresponding to a similar positioning mark ordevice 46′ provided on the frame 1 so as to guarantee that the blade 9,9′ is always inserted the right way round in the frame 1.

The first face 47 of the body of a man-made or metal material 44 is alsoequipped with a snap fitting device 49 holding it in the frame 1 andalso with a step 50 to guide the blade 9, 9′ when it is inserted intothe frame.

As for the second face 48 of the body of a man-made or metal material44, this is equipped with a guide groove 54 in the centre.

As shown in FIGS. 16, 17, 20 and 21, the spacer 8 of the frame 1 isprovided at its end 51 positioned facing the first end 11 of the cuttingdepth adjustment ramp 10 with a guide strip 52 for the transverse blade9, 9′, the free end 53 of which is bent to form a guide rib which actsin conjunction with the guide groove 54 in the body of a man-made ormetal material 44 of the transverse blades 9, 9′.

In a similar way, the end 51 of the spacer 8 acts in conjunction withthe guide step 50 on the body of a man-made or metal material 44 of thetransverse blades 9, 9′ to complete the guidance of these blades whenthey are installed in or removed from the frame 1.

Openings 55, 55′ provided in the side uprights 6, 7 of the frame 1permit these insertion and removal operations as shown in FIGS. 16 and17.

The positioning of a transverse blade 9, 9′ in the frame 1 is thusparticularly quick and easy: in fact, the blade only has to be insertedthrough the opening 55 in the upright 6 and slid along the guide strip52 so that it is automatically guided by components 51, 53 until, oncefully home, it passes through the opening 55′ in the upright 7 and isheld in position by the snap-in device 49.

As shown in FIGS. 20, 21, 26 and 27, the vegetable cutter is alsoequipped with a lengthwise cutter blade 56 acting in conjunction withthe transverse blade 9, 9′ to cut the vegetables into sticks.

This cutter 56 consists of a body of a man-made or metal material 57equipped with a set of equidistant blades 58 aligned substantially atright angles to the cutting edge 42, 43 of the transverse blades 9, 9′and at its ends has recesses 59, 59′ acting in conjunction withcorresponding projections 60, 60′ provided on the inner face of the sideuprights 6, 7 of the frame 1.

The cutter 56 can thus be held by snapping into place between theuprights 6, 7.

The recesses 59, 59′ and also the projections 60, 60′ are asymmetricalto ensure that the blade 56 is always fitted the right way round.

As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, the body of a manmade or metal material 57of the cutter 58 includes two ergonomically shaped notches 61, 61′acting in conjunction with projections 62, 62′ which provide a stop forthe user's fingers to avoid slipping towards the blades 58 wheninserting the cutter into the frame 1.

As shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 28, a transverse locking bar 63 capable oftranslational motion between the side uprights 6, 7 holds the cutterblade 56 in the frame 1.

For this purpose, the bar 63 has two side tabs 64, 64′ inserted into theslots 65, 65′ provided on the side uprights 6 and 7.

The bar 63 is also equipped in its centre portion with a projecting part66 by which the user can grip it to slide it into slots 65, 65′ in orderto install the cutter blade 56 in the frame 1 or remove it.

1. A safety manual vegetable cutter comprising a frame equipped with atleast one cutting blade fitted transversely facing a slot through whichsliced vegetables pass two side rails to provide guidance in ato-and-fro translational motion for a guide chamber equipped with aloading volume in the guide chamber for vegetables to be sliced andacting in conjunction with a press-down cap designed to be gripped by auser to move the guide chamber to and fro along the guide rails whileexerting a constant pressure on the vegetables contained in the loadingvolume so as to press them against the at least one cutting blade fittedto the frame and enable them to be sliced along a cutting plane by theat least one cutting blade, and means for adjusting the depth of cutincluding a ramp fitted so as to be capable of translational motionoblique to the cutting plane and facing the at least one cutting bladeat a first end to form a slot through which the sliced vegetables pass,the ramp comprising two side flanges each having an inclined holeoblique to the cutting plane for adjustably engaging a projection from aguide rail, and an opening for receiving a locking screw, and the guiderails each having an inclined hole oblique to the cutting plane forreceiving the locking screw.
 2. A vegetable cutter according to claim 1,wherein the frame comprises two parallel side uprights connected by atransverse operating handle and forming the guide rails for the guidechamber.
 3. A vegetable cutter according to claim 1, further comprisingmeans for keeping the first end of the cutting depth adjustment ramp ata constant short distance from the at least one cutting blade.
 4. Avegetable cutter according to claim 1, further comprising at least onefoot on which said vegetable cutter stands.
 5. A vegetable cutteraccording to claim 4, wherein the at least one foot is a folding foot.6. A vegetable cutter according to claim 1, further comprising at leasttwo removable and interchangeable transverse blades that are selectivelypositioned and snapped into place in the frame, one of these bladesbeing equipped with a straight cutting edge while the other is equippedwith a corrugated cutting edge.
 7. A vegetable cutter according to claim1, further comprising at least one removable lengthwise cutter bladeequipped with a set of equidistant blades aligned substantially at rightangles to the at least two removable and interchangeable transverseblades so as to enable vegetables to be cut into sticks.